The Saturday edition of the Toronto Star profiles two Ontario owners adversely affected by the government's decision to cut the slots-at-racetracks program in 2013.
Breeder Lori Ferguson is banking on the industry surviving. She will continue to breed her mares in Ontario, feeling that the province will require young horses to race.
“I believe deep down there will be an industry and somebody’s going to need horses.”
“We could have easily gone to the United States and bred to U.S. sires but we bred and supported our Ontario breeding farms,” Ferguson told The Star.
Another story features owner Ronda Markle, who rescued a horse from slaughter that she once trained before - trotter Pride Of Earl. The 13-year-old gelding was found marked for slaughter: “He was really, really thin. Bones sticking out." Markle paid $750 to rescue him then $19 per day for the mandatory two-week quarantine period before shipping him back to Cobourg, Ont. - which cost another $850 for shipping.
Markle is hopeful that she can find a home for "Buckie" before winter, or he and other horses at her farm may need to be put down.
“Nobody has any money and people are really scared,” said Markle. "We don’t know how much racing there will be next year — where, when and for how much.”
I'm not giving up hope that
I'm not giving up hope that racing can survive. I sure hope Buckie finds a forever home. He is a big sweetheart and gentle.